Day 5 of Week 2 The Patriarchs

Day Five of Week Two
Smoke Rising
 
Today's Treasure: Genesis 19: 28
"He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace."
 
The topics in this study are very difficult to discuss. I am not go ing to even pretend to have any answers to this text; therefore, I am simply going to list the questions and answer the ones that are Scripture based. If they are opinion questions, I will leave them open for you to answer on your own.
 
Read Genesis 19 very carefully.
Several shocking things happen in Genesis 19. Please list them and add any questions or comments that would help you prepare for today's discussion.
The men of Sodom are fighting to enter Lot's house so they can rape the Angels inside.
Lot offers his daughters to the rapists
The daughters rape Lot 
 
OK, let's work through these passages. We witness a dimension of the miraculous as early as Genesis 19: 1. What time of day did the angels arrive in Sodom?
In the evening
 
What general time of day did the Angels arrive "near the great trees of Mamre" according to Genesis 18: 1?
In the heat of the day (afternoon)
Since the two places were 40 miles apart, the Angels literally had to fly to get 40 miles in that time.
 
What have we already learned about these men (Genesis 13: 13)?
The men of Sodom were wicked
Did anyone else notice that the Scripture stating this was 13: 13…is there anything to this or is 13 a number that man related to evil?
 
Paraphrase Ephesians 4: 18 – 19 and tell how these verses apply to today's text:
They gave themselves to indulge in impurity, always longing for more. They want the angels because of their purity. We have a continual lust for more when we give in to impurity.
 
Beth's earlier comments about Lot may seem to contradict 2 Peter 2: 7. What does this verse say about Abraham's nephew?
He was a righteous man distressed by the filthy lived of wicked men
 
 
How did Lot's future sons-in-law respond according to verse 14?
They thought he was joking
 
Do you ever encounter people who act as if the threat of judgment on a wicked world is a joke? What do you think of such a response?
 
If Lot's young sons-in-law had a second of clarity when the first pelts of sulfuric fire fell from heaven, their last thought was the sobering reality that the judgment of wickedness is no joke. Take a look at 2 Peter 2: 3 – 10 and note any comparisons
There are scoffers that say the earth has been going on since the day of creation in the same way
 
Can you think of a time when "looking back" was a grievous mistake? Share as discreetly as possible
 
From Beth:
Lot's mistake on behalf of his family was pitching "his tents near Sodom". When believers are totally outnumbered and no one stands with us in godliness, few are strong enough to resist lowering the standard of relativity. No, the Lot family did not participate in homosexual sin, but the line dividing right from wrong and healthy from unhealthy got blurred. When desperation came, alternatives that should have been shocking simply were not.
 
Does this make sense to you? If so, say it in your own words or give an example.
 
Read John 14: 23. Why does love for Jesus lead to obedience?
"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.' "